New York Giants Training Camp Preview: Secondary
What Spagnuolo will not like is the uncertainty in the last line of defense at safety. We have seen in the past, free safety is an extremely important position to fill in a Spagnuolo ran defense. Not only are they the last line of defensive, they are the ones who set things up and make sure the defense is aligned correctly. This is where things get extremely cloudy for the Giants, as Collins is the only player assured of playing time.
Collins, who the Giants traded up in the second round to obtain, is locked in as one of the starters at safety; the question is which one? He is better suited to play FS, as his skill set is strongest playing against the run in the box. The Giants have a clear need for help in the run game, but there is still a chance Collins plays SS as well. The Giants asked him to drop some weight after OTAs so there is a chance he plays the centerfield role in Spagnuolo’s defense.
Who will be running with Collins though, that is the question. At this time it is anyone’s guess. The Giants are lacking any real playing experience at safety, so everyone is pretty much on even playing ground. It looks as though the Giants want Nat Berhe to take over next to Collins, but he missed all of spring practice with a calf injury. That is enough to put someone behind the eight-ball as the first person to grasp the role and emerges from the group.
Jun 16, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants safety Landon Collins (21) participates in practice during minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Steven Ryan-USA TODAY Sports
Could it be Cooper Taylor, who was filling in for Behre in the spring? The Giants like him, but his skillset doesn’t translate well to the centerfield role. He plays more like Collins, so the two seem to be a poor pairing as a safety duo. Taylor stands 6-feet-4 inches tall and weighs 228 pounds, so if the Giants find a role for him, it will more than likely be closer to the line of scrimmage to help in the run game.
Is it possible for the Giants to strike in two consecutive years with their fifth round pick? Mykelle Thompson has a chance to earn a starting role because of the instincts he possesses. He can dissect a play quickly and figure out what is going on in front of him. But, he lacks the size you normally see from an NFL safety. That could be what holds him back. He was also a special teams ace at Texas on the coverage teams, so the Giants could choose to instead use his talents there if someone else comes out of the rag tag group vying for a starting spot.
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Jackson is facing an uphill battle after a lost rookie season because of injuries. What also puts him as a long shot at this time is the fact he is transitioning from cornerback. He is still learning the safety position, which is enough to take him out of the running. But, even with the position change, he has essentially as much experience at the position as the players he is competing with, so if he can show the Giants coaching staff something they like he could find himself right in the thick of things.
Jeromy Miles is a wild card here. He is familiar with Spagnuolo, as the two spent time with the Baltimore Ravens together. He is a six-year NFL veteran, which is more than the rest of the Giants safeties combined. But, he was a free agent up until about three weeks ago, which should be all you need to know about what teams around the NFL think of him. But, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, so maybe the Giants see something in Miles other teams did not.
Whatever Spagnuolo and the Giants decide to do at safety, you can bet the house on it not being decided anytime soon. They will let every player show what they can do and hope a player emerges from the pack; think along the lines of what they did with tight end last year. Is there a Larry Donnell among this group? The Giants are certainly hoping so.